Police open fire to quell mob at Naubatpur

Patna police on Wednesday lobbed teargas shells and fired in the air to disperse an angry mob that laid siege to Naubatpur police station for about two hours, demanding to re-conduct the autopsy of Pancham Mahato, a former district councillor, and also to lodge a murder case in this connection.

Patna police on Wednesday lobbed teargas shells and fired in the air to disperse an angry mob that laid siege to Naubatpur police station for about two hours, demanding to re-conduct the autopsy of Pancham Mahato, a former district councillor, and also to lodge a murder case in this connection. Pancham's body was found under mysterious circumstance in Sitamarhi district on September 17.

A large number of local residents in Naubatpur had gone to the police station demanding to lodge a murder case and conduct post-mortem examination of Pancham again. People became furious when the policemen present there refused to heed to their complaint.

The angry mob refused to accept the report of autopsy that was conducted at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and began pelting stones on the cops.

On being informed, SDO (Danapur) Avneesh Kumar Singh, City SP Jayant Kant and DSP (Phulwarisharif ) along with police reinforcement reached the spot to control the situation.

Police said Pancham, a historysheeter, had allegedly asked five ward councillor to attend the no confidence motion scheduled at Naubatpur on September 19. He took them to Sitamarhi to keep them in safe custody till the no confiodence motion. 

"It seems he died accidentally. The authorities concerned had already conducted Pancham's post-mortem. However, locals expressed disatisfaction over the report," SDO said, adding that he had talked to the DMCH principal to ensure a fair autopsy report. "Pancham's viscera report has been preserved. We are looking into the matter thoroughly," he said.

Later, the situation was brought under control when police chased away the protestors from the police station.

The station house officers (SHOs) of several police stations have been deputed in the area to maintain law and order.